The headquarters of the Ishtar Familia stood in the southwestern corner of Orario, a magnificent palace-like structure whose golden exterior gleamed beneath the sunlight, forming a stark contrast with the plain buildings around it.
The air was thick with a rich fragrance, the scent of courtesans, sweet and intoxicating, like an invisible net trying to ensnare every passerby.
But at that moment, the atmosphere inside the palace couldn't have been more different from its luxurious exterior.
Ishtar stood in the center of the great hall, dressed in revealing clothing with heavy makeup painted across her face. Fury burned in her violet eyes.
A whip hung from her hand, its tip trailing across the floor and swaying gently with every movement of her body.
Before her, more than a dozen Familia members knelt in a row with their heads lowered, none daring to look at her. Their bodies trembled faintly, like prisoners awaiting judgment.
"You useless pieces of trash!"
Ishtar's shrill voice echoed throughout the hall.
"I told you to find one man, and you can't even do that! What use are any of you?!"
Her whip cut through the air in an arc before cracking against the floor.
Snap!
A pale mark appeared across the marble.
Every member of the Familia flinched at once. Some bit their lips, some clenched their fists, while others shut their eyes, but not a single one dared to answer back.
They knew Ishtar far too well.
When this Goddess of Beauty was pleased, she could seem almost angelic.
When she was angry, she could become terrifying.
A single careless objection might condemn them to a fate worse than death.
The man kneeling at the front finally raised his head.
He was a Level 4 adventurer with a long scar running from the corner of his eye to his chin, giving him a savage and intimidating appearance.
Yet right now, his face was filled with fear, and beads of sweat covered his forehead.
"Goddess Ishtar, it's not that we haven't been trying. We genuinely haven't been able to find Genichi."
His voice was dry, carrying a hint of grievance.
"We've been watching the entrance to the Demeter Familia's home from before dawn until late at night. We haven't taken our eyes off it for even a moment, but we haven't seen so much as Genichi's shadow."
Ishtar narrowed her eyes.
A dangerous gleam flashed through her violet pupils.
"So you're telling me he simply vanished into thin air?"
The man's body jerked, and he hurriedly shook his head.
"N-No. I wouldn't say he vanished. We believe he may be using some method we don't know about to enter and leave the Demeter Familia's home. There may be more than one exit. Maybe there's a hidden passage, or a back entrance, or perhaps..."
"Perhaps what?"
Ishtar's voice rose sharply.
"Perhaps he never left at all? Perhaps he's still hiding inside?"
"Are you telling me that I, a Goddess of Beauty, can't even find one human?"
The man's head dropped even lower, almost touching the floor.
"I wouldn't dare."
Ishtar took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the rage boiling inside her.
She knew there was little point in blaming these Familia members.
She hadn't sent out just these few.
She had mobilized nearly the full resources of her Familia.
Some kept watch.
Some gathered rumors.
Some bought information.
Others followed anyone connected to Genichi.
And yet the result was always the same.
Genichi seemed to have vanished from the face of the world without leaving even the slightest trace.
"So that rumor really was true."
Ishtar murmured.
Her voice carried frustration, excitement, and a trace of something even she hadn't noticed.
Fear.
Of course she'd heard the rumor.
Genichi supposedly possessed a teleportation spell unique in all of Orario, one capable of moving him instantly from one location to another without traveling through the intervening space.
At first, she'd assumed it was an exaggeration.
A legend created by people who worshiped Genichi.
Nothing more than a rumor meant to intimidate his enemies.
But now she had no choice but to believe it.
Only teleportation could explain how Genichi could leave the Demeter Familia's home without passing through the entrance.
Only teleportation could explain why none of her people ever saw him.
Only teleportation could explain why he seemed to disappear from the world entirely.
"Teleportation magic..."
Ishtar slowly ran her fingers along the handle of her whip, her eyes narrowing in thought.
If she could possess that magic...
If she could control the man who possessed it...
Then she could accomplish countless things that had previously been impossible.
She could come and go freely.
Appear without warning.
Reach anyone, anywhere, at any time.
That kind of ability was more terrifying than any weapon.
"Get up."
Ishtar's voice returned to normal, though the flames in her eyes remained.
The Familia members rose as though they'd been granted a pardon.
They knew their goddess well enough to understand that her calm could often be more dangerous than her anger.
Ishtar turned and walked toward the window, gazing out at the city bathed in sunlight.
Orario's streets were crowded with people.
Adventurers walked together in small groups, merchants shouted to advertise their wares, and children chased one another through the alleys.
Everything looked ordinary.
Peaceful.
Beautiful.
But Ishtar knew that beneath that calm surface, countless schemes and ambitions were constantly moving.
"Genichi..."
Her voice was soft, almost as though she were calling out to someone far away.
"Where exactly are you?"
No one answered her.
Sunlight poured through the window, casting a long shadow behind her across the floor.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the windowsill in a steady rhythm.
She had been watching Genichi for a long time.
Ever since she'd first heard his name.
Ever since she'd first learned that he possessed resurrection magic.
Ever since she'd realized how valuable he was.
From that moment onward, a powerful desire to possess him had taken root inside her.
Resurrection magic.
A domain beyond even the reach of the gods.
An ability that existed only in legends.
If she possessed that power, there were far too many things she could accomplish.
She could resurrect dead heroes.
Resurrect useful people.
Resurrect those who could help fulfill her ambitions.
Ishtar turned away from the window and returned to the center of the hall before lowering herself onto a luxurious couch.
She raised one hand and gestured for the Familia members to leave.
"Get out."
Her voice was calm, but carried an unquestionable authority.
"Keep searching. Don't ignore a single clue. I don't care if you have to turn all of Orario upside down. Find Genichi."
The Familia members nodded and silently withdrew from the hall.
Their footsteps slowly faded down the corridor.
Soon, Ishtar was alone.
She leaned back against the soft cushions and closed her eyes as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
She had to bring Genichi under her control as soon as possible.
Before he grew too powerful to restrain, she needed to turn him into one of her pieces.
She knew his strength was increasing at a frightening rate.
Every day that passed, he became stronger.
If this continued much longer, there might come a point when no one could control him.
She recalled everything she'd learned about him.
Only a few months ago, he'd been an ordinary human.
Now he was already a Level 6 adventurer.
That growth was simply unbelievable.
Given enough time...
Could he surpass even the Empress of the past?
Ishtar didn't dare imagine it.
But she knew she couldn't afford to wait.
She had to make her move before Genichi became strong enough that no one in Orario could stop him.
"Resurrection magic..."
Ishtar murmured, a manic light flickering in her violet eyes.
"If I can obtain resurrection magic, then I can bring back the heroes of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia..."
A bold plan began forming in her mind.
Resurrect the heroes who had once belonged to the two great Familias driven from Orario after their defeat.
The Zeus Familia and Hera Familia had once been the two strongest Familias in Orario.
Their members stood at the very pinnacle of adventurers.
But after their failed attempt to defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon, both Familias fell, and Loki and Freya eventually drove what remained of them from Orario.
Those people had lost everything.
Surely they would resent Loki.
Surely they would resent Freya.
Perhaps some of them would even resent Orario itself.
If Ishtar could resurrect them...
If she could make those heroes indebted to her...
If she could exploit that resentment...
Then she might finally gain the power she needed to deal with Freya and realize the ambition she'd held for so many years.
A cruel smile slowly appeared on Ishtar's lips.
She had been waiting for an opportunity.
An opportunity to bring Freya down.
That Goddess of Beauty.
That woman who was more beautiful than her, stronger than her, and more adored than her.
Ishtar had hated her for far too long.
If she could borrow the strength of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia...
If she could make use of those resurrected heroes...
If she could persuade them to fight for her...
Then perhaps she could finally drag Freya down from her throne, crush her beneath her feet, and force her to taste defeat.
"Genichi..."
Ishtar's voice was quiet, but filled with absolute determination.
"You won't escape me."
"No matter where you're hiding, no matter what method you use, I'll find you."
"You will become mine."
Outside the window, the sunlight remained bright as people continued moving through Orario's busy streets.
No one knew that within this magnificent palace, a dangerous scheme was taking shape.
No one knew that the Goddess of Beauty admired by so many was planning to exploit the power of one young man to fulfill her ambitions.
Meanwhile, inside the Demeter Familia's living room, Genichi sat calmly on the sofa with a cup of hot tea in his hand.
The shadow beneath his feet rippled faintly.
Everything that had happened inside the Ishtar Familia's headquarters was being relayed back to him.
Ishtar's rage.
Her plans.
Her ambitions.
He hadn't missed a single word.
The corners of Genichi's lips slowly rose into a faint smile.
"Ishtar..."
He murmured softly to himself.
"You're really asking for it."
Demeter sat beside him, looking over with concern filling her eyes.
"Genichi, are you really going to keep avoiding her?"
Genichi shook his head.
"I'm not avoiding her."
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting for Hestia to descend."
"Waiting until I obtain the Authority over the Sacred Flame."
"Waiting until I have the ability to become completely immune to charm."
"Once that happens, I won't have any reason to keep hiding."
Demeter fell silent for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"I hope that day comes soon."
Genichi looked at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"It will."
"Very soon."
Hestia...
Hurry up and come down already.
(End of Chapter)
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